Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-01-20
CLUvERIUS HANGED.

The Murderer of His Cousin, Fanny Lillian
Madison Hanged at Richmond, Vale
Meets His Doom With Ffrmness-A Silkeu
Rope With Too Much Stretch to 1.-THE
Makes No Confession.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 14-C1uverius was
executed at l 10 p. m. He died protesting
his innocence
The morning broke cloudy to-day. The
thick mist hid the light of the sun, and
clouds obscured the sky. 1t was gloomy,
dlsagreeable beginning of what afterward
proved to be bright and beautiful day,
Tor at ten o'clock the mist disappeared.
the clouds rolled away and the atmosphere
was as bright and balmy as ever seen in
May.
Cluverius was up early. His counsel,
Mr.. Bev. Crump, parted with him at two
O'Clock this morning, and he afterward
took only few hours rest, without re-
moving his clothes. He bore up bravely,
but seemed to be hopeful. Groups of peo-
pie gathered around the newspaper offices
and the vicinity of the jail, anxious to hear
what action, if any, the Governor had
taken. As the hours wore on the crowd
increased. and the excitement became
more and more intense. The telephone at
the city jail was kept in constant use, ask
ing for the latest news.
The Governor remained in his private
not seen by any of the counsel. They had
done all that was possible for their client,
but to no avail.
Mr.. Bev. Crump, one of the most active
of the counsel, came down to the jail about
eleven o'clock and had a talk with the
prisoner. Mr.. Frank Cunningham, who
has frequently sang for the prisoners
qualification. also came down and sang
with much melody several hymns, one of
which began: elbow Firm Foundation Ye
Saints of the Lord" greatly affecting the
prisoner. The excitement incidentalto the
hanging was greatly augmented by reason
of the fact that it was unknown what the
action of the Governor would be, and
there were great many criticisms upon
this, many of them very severe upon the
Governor.
The prisoners, some three hundred or
four hundred in number, mostly negroes,
chanted in loud voices their peculiar
hymns while waiting for the hour of the
execution.
The scaffold was erected in the Enclosure
of the Jail yard, and admittance was
gain ed only by a ticket from City Sergeant
Smith. Notwithstanding this, the small
space left was filed with people, brought
out by idle curiosity.
After Mr. Crump reported that the Gov
Sergeant Smith hurried his preparations
for the execution. The crowd on the out
side, at least fifteen thousand, yelled and
hooted, and seemed impatient for the
crisis. A herd of cattle was driven
through the crowd on Jail alley, and this
caused wild ripple of excitement, the
street being densely packed with human
beings.
At D. m. the prisoner was led out of his
cell. He wore neat suit of black dag
onal cloth. His arms were pinioned in
front, and his step was firm. The people
on house-tops and in the trees yelled when
they saw him descending the steps, and
this was the signal for a general whoop
from the crowd Down the winding steps
of the Jail came the procession, headed by
Deputy Sergeant Macon, followed by Ser
geant J. G. Smith, escorting the prisoner,
and behind them Rev. DR.. W. E. Hatcher
and Deputy Sergeant Allen.
Cluverius was cool and collected; he did
not quiver or show the slightest nervous
embarrassment. He stepped quickly and
naturally up the long flight of steps and
stopped Immediately in the center of the
trap door. He wore a cheap brown hat.
and his shoes were of the fashionable cut
and neatly polished. His face had on it a
beard of several days growth, and his
great will power.
Sergeant Smith advanced to the front
of the scaffold and in. a loud and distinct
voice read the death warrant Turning to
the prisoner, after finishing the reading
he asked:
"Have you any thing to say?'
To this Cluverius replied in voice
inaudible far away:
ssNot word, sir"
Rev. DR.. Hatcher then said
ssLet US all pray and kneeling upon
the rough pine boards of the scaffold, he of,
fered fervent PRAYER to the throne OF
mercy. During this prayer the prisoner
renamed standing. No trace of excitement
was visible except that his eyelids quiv-
cred every second. His hat had been re
moved and his brown hair glistened in the
sunlight.
When the prayer was ended, the con-
| demned man asked Rev. DR.. Hatcher tC
| come near him, and when the latter did so
| few words in low voice were said to
| him. Turning to the crowd below DR.
| Hatcher said:
Il am requested by the prisoner tt
| say just one word, that he carries nc
| ill-feeling to-day against any one or
| earth.''
| Dr. Hatcher then turned and badt
| the prisoner farewell. Deputy Sergean
| Allen tied his legs together and put thu
| black cap over his head and adjusted it.
At ten minutes to eight o'clock the tral
| was sprung and the body of Cluveriu:
| shot downwards SO quickly that none
| could describe it.
Then a scene was witnessed. The sill
rope did poor service, and it was seen tina
| the moose had slipped and the rop'
! stretched fearfully. The feet of Cluveriu:
| were inst touching the ground, and only
! turn and half of the moose was left
| Horror was on the faces of the spectator!
| present, and in minute the police were
| ordering every one to leave the premises
DIR. Oppenheimer examined the bod!
| and at first said that the pulse was beating
! regularly; that there were guttura
sounds for six minutes, gasps for breath
| and indications of strangulatiOn. The vic
tim, however. did not writhe; his hea'
| hung on one side and around hi
neck was a red livid mark mad
| by the fall of eight feet
The color of the countenance commenced
to change, and in sixteen minutes afte
the drop Drs. Anderson, Beale and Cabe
pronounced life extinct. DR.. Oppenheime
said that the neck had been broken by tn
fall
The body was turned over to an under
taker, and will be sent to King and Queer
County for interment.
|
| August Spies to be Married.